Classical Music News of the Week: August 21, 2011

Deutsche Grammophon and Decca Classics U.S. in Partnership with L4 Mobile Present iClassics

New iPad Application Dedicated To Discovering The Best In Classical Music

August 15, 2011, New York, NY: iClassics is a new classical music discovery application developed exclusively for Apple's iPad. Created by Deutsche Grammophon and Decca Classics U.S. in partnership with L4 Mobile, the app allows consumers to explore the recordings from these labels' vast and prestigious catalogues in a new and interactive way. Deutsche Grammophon and Decca labels are home to such lauded artists such as Luciano Pavarotti, Cecilia Bartoli, Daniel Barenboim, Gustavo Dudamel, Leonard Bernstein, Anna Netrebko, Renée Fleming and many more.

Utilizing a unique tagging interface, iClassics offers the ability to search, mix and match composers, instruments and even moods, successfully catering to classical music beginners and established fans alike. iClassics also includes an interactive composer timeline featuring over 100 composers ranging from the Medieval time period through the present.

In addition, users have the ability to share their classical music discoveries with friends on Facebook and Twitter. Free updates will include new recordings along with new features as they roll out.

"Classical music is an incredibly rich experience, but the sheer variety of composers, performers and interpretations can be daunting for some," said Max Hole, Chief Operating Officer, Universal Music Group International, who is responsible for UMG's market-leading classical music labels worldwide. "This new, exciting iClassics app simplifies this complex world and guides music lovers to the finest recordings of the masterpieces performed by the world's top performers in an enjoyable, user-friendly way. Our goal is to help more people discover this extraordinary world."

--Olga Makrias, VP, Publicity

Deutsche Grammophon & Decca Classics, U.S.

Elza van den Heever Makes Her First Appearances of the 2011-12 Season with Chicago Lyric Opera, Hamburgische Staatsoper, and the Berlin Philharmonic

August 17, 2011 - South African soprano Elza van den Heever's 2011-2012 performance schedule begins with her Hamburgische Staatsoper debut as Donna Anna in Don Giovanni, the role that launched her professional career in 2007 in San Francisco, and which she has repeated to critical acclaim in Frankfurt, Arizona and Santa Fe.

At Oper Frankfurt, where she has been a member of the resident company since 2008, Ms. van den Heever sings her role debut as Desdemona in Johannes Erath's new production of Otello and reprises the role of Antonia in Dale Duesing's production of Les contes d'Hoffman.

With recent successes in operas by romantics Strauss, Offenbach, Wagner and Verdi, 2011-2012 sees the soprano taking on the baroque era with two Handel role debuts, both under the baton of leading baroque maestro Harry Bicket. For her Lyric Opera debut, she sings Armida in the company's all-star cast of Rinaldo, which also includes renowned countertenor David Daniels in the title role, Julie Kleiter as Almirena, and Luca Pisaroni as Argante. With Opéra National de Bordeaux Ms. van den Heever assumes the title role in Alcina in a new production by David Alden featuring Isabel Leonard as Ruggiero.

Building on an acclaimed concert season in which she performed Strauss's Four Last Songs in San Francisco and the Verdi Requiem in Frankfurt, Ms. van den Heever makes her Berlin Philharmonic debut in Beethoven's Missa Solemnis conducted by Herbert Blomstedt.

In coming seasons, Ms. van den Heever will make her debut at the Metropolitan Opera and expand her repertoire to include Elisabetta in Maria Stuarda and Hélène in Les Vêpres siciliennes. Winner of the 2008 Seattle Opera Wagner Competition, Ms. van den Heever was born and raised in Johannesburg, South Africa and studied at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. A graduate of both the Merola Opera Program and San Francisco Opera's Adler Fellowship (where she created the role of Mary Custis Lee in the world première of Philip Glass's Appomattox), she continues to study with Sheri Greenawald. When not performing in Frankfurt, Ms. van den Heever makes her home in Bordeaux, France.

August 19, 2011 - Mexican tenor David Lomelí's 2011-12 season takes the talented young performer to stages in the United States, Canada, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and Germany. Proclaimed "the vocal discovery of the season" by the The Washington Post's Charles Downey for his performances as Rodolfo in La bohème at Santa Fe Opera, Lomelí will make his Glyndebourne Festival debut in June in the same role, which he also performs in concert with the Pacific Symphony. Lomelí begins his season as the Duke of Mantua in Rigoletto for Canadian Opera Company, a role he will also perform under the baton of Gustavo Dudamel in an August concert with the Los Angeles Philharmonic at the Hollywood Bowl and with the Badisches Staatstheater Karlsruhe. He makes his Houston Grand Opera debut as Alfredo in La Traviata under the baton of Music Director Patrick Summers; Edgardo in Lucia di Lammermoor with Deutsche Oper Berlin; a professional recital debut with the Birmingham Music Club at the Wright Center in Birmingham, Alabama; and performances of Verdi's Requiem with Sinfonieorchester Basel.

Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg and the New Century Chamber Orchestra Celebrate 20th Anniversary

August 19, 2011 - Music Director Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg and the New Century Chamber Orchestra celebrate the ensemble's 20th anniversary season with a five-concert East Coast tour featuring appearances in New York, Albany, Worcester, Amherst and Wayne, return appearances of former Music Directors Stuart Canin and Krista Bennion Feeney and a world premiere from Featured Composer Ellen Taaffe Zwilich. Repertoire for the 2011 East Coast tour includes Rossini's Sonata in G Major, Mendelssohn's Octet in E-flat Major, the East Coast Premiere of Bolcom's Romanza for Violin and String Orchestra, commissioned by New Century, with Ms. Salerno-Sonnenberg as soloist and Barber's Adagio for Strings, featured on the orchestra's most recent CD release Live: Barber, Strauss and Mahler.

Joining the New Century for their 20th Anniversary Season celebrations in the Bay Area will be Pulitzer Prize winner Ellen Taaffe Zwilich as featured composer, mandolinists Mike Marshall and Caterina Lichtenberg, and special showcase performances by former music directors Stuart Canin and Krista Bennion Feeney.

The season opens September 22. In addition to the tour, sixteen San Francisco Bay Area performances, and a world premiere, the Ensemble will hold a special 20th Anniversary Gala on November 5 to celebrate the important anniversary and send the orchestra off on their East Coast tour.